WiFi networks are so ubiquitous today, essentially because they have genuinely been able to make internet connectivity unusually easy and convenient. A WiFi network has been such an important tool not just for a particular profession centric people but for the entire humankind today as it has been instrumental in enabling the services that once were unheard of and completely out of imagination.
After all, WiFi networks enabled cell phones to use internet connectivity. But as they say, with great power comes great responsibility, because WiFi networks are so important and are so essential to our lives, it becomes equally important to secure them and create standard safety procedures so that their access remains a facility rather than a threat.
We all know that wired WiFi networks are much safer than the wireless ones as stealing or manipulating the bandwidth becomes genuinely difficult. But in the case of wireless networks, they are quite prone to hacking as others no matter where they are in your vicinity, can access your broadband connections.
Problems of Using Unsecured Wi-Fi:
- If someone has hacked your WiFi network, and he or she has been using it while you are completely unaware, your internet bills might sour in no time
- Your internet speed might get significantly affected
- And your personal information stored in your devices in which you access the internet can also be stolen and misused for not so noble purposes
- Your internet connection as well your IP address can be used to send potentially negative and harmful emails to people which can eventually get you arrested or out in legal troubles
And therefore it’s genuinely and essentially important to keep your WiFi connectivity as safe as you can.
Different Best Ways to Protect Your WiFi Network:
1. Access your router’s settings and create a Unique password
You can access your router’s settings page by typing “192.168.0.1” in your web browser. A page shall appear which shall ask you to enter the username and password, after entering which you can access your router’s settings and then create a unique and potentially strong password consisting a combination of uppercase and lowercase alphabets, numbers, unique characters such us star and hash, etc.
2. SSID
Change your SSID of your WiFi by finding the settings in the section of “basic wireless settings” in the router’s settings page that we mentioned in Step 1. That won’t make a significant difference to your WiFi’s security but it would make it very apparent for others to be aware of the network they are getting connected to every time they are using their WiFi networks. This just lessens the possibility of someone else getting connected to your network.
3. Encryption
One can also make sure that his or her wireless signals are encrypted so that the other computers and devices can be prevented from getting connected to your WiFi and using your internet connection. This encryption can be easily done by accessing your router’s settings page mentioned in Step 1, and accessing the option of “wireless security settings”.
Then you can select one among two major options as your preferred security method. But it shall largely depend on the kind of device that you are using. For instance, if you are using an old device, then you must choose WEP and if the device is new, then you can opt for WPA2. Later, you would have to enter a passcode that would be hard for others to guess, to enable access to your network.
4. Shortening your WiFi signals
You can also shorten your WiFi signals so that you can limit the number of people who could be in the vicinity of your WiFi signals and hack or misuse your WiFi connection. There are several ways that one can opt to shorten one’s WiFi range. One can opt for changing the mode of one’s router or even use a different wireless channel. One can also opt for applying layers to one’s router, as in placing in a cardboard box or even wrapping it in foil paper.
Taking care of security isn’t too difficult and one should be willing to spend some substantial time to ensure the safety of their WiFi and internet connectivity associated with it.